davis



Oct. 30, 1956 Filed April 20, 1953 E. A. DAVIS SELECTION MECHANISM I 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 30, 1.956 E. A. DAVIS SELECTION MECHANISM 2 She ets-Sheet 2 Filed April 20, 1953 United States Patent SELECTION MECHANISM Elwood A. Davis, Castro Valley, Califi, assignor to Frlden Calculating Machine Co., Inc., eorporatioof California Application April 20, 1953, Serial No. 349,814 9 Claims. (Cl. 235-145) This invention relates to the selection mechanism of a calculating machine having keyboard controlled selection slides, and particularly a selection mechanism in which a value can be locked in the selection mechanism during a multicycle operation while the keyboard is released to receive the next factor for a machine operation.

An important object of the present invention is to provide what might be called an overlapping keyboard, that is, one in which the keyboard of a calculating machine sets a value into the selection mechanism, which value is locked into the selection mechanism during machine operation while the keyboard is released to receive another factor.

Another important object of the present invention is toprovide a control mechanism for an overlapping keyboard which enables the operator to selectively operate the machine in the conventional manner (i. e., operation in which the selection mechanism is set by the keyboard, and released from an operative position by the release of the keyboard keys), or in an overlapping manner (in which the value can be locked in the selection mechanism and the keyboard released for the receipt of a new factor).

A further object of the invention is to increase the efiiciency of a calculating machine by enabling the oper ator to set a factor into the keyboard thereof, while the machine is operating in a lrnulticycle operation.

These and other objects of the invention, as Well as the uses and advantages therefor, will be readily apparent from a consideration of the following description. An understanding of my invention will be more readily secured if reference is made to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through a conventional calculating machine showing one order of the keyboard, the selection mechanism associated therewith, and the ordinally associated actuator and register.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed view of the centralizing mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a left side view of the right-hand supporting plate of the machine shown in Fig. 1, showing modifies tions to the conventional add key mechanism thereof.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the keyboard clearing mechanism shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the keyboard clearing lever shown in Fig. 3.

For purposes of exemplification, my invention is shown as applied to a conventional calculating machine of the type described in the patent to Carl M. Friden, No. 2,229,889, of January 28, 1941. It will be understood, however, that this invention can be applied readily to any calculating machine having selection members settable in differential positions to control the entry of predetermined values into the machine register. In the embodiment shown and described, these selection members are the selection slides positioned by the value keys, which slides in turn control the differential positioning of the selection gears with respect to the stepped drum actuators; but it should be understood that other systems of selection can be used with my invention. As indicated above, a primary purpose of the present invention is to provide means for locking a keyboard value into the selection mechanism during a multicycle operation, while releasing the keyboard so that it may receive the keyboard factor of the next machine operation.

An operator can control the entry of values into the rachine by means of value keys 11 which are, as is conthe ar mounted upon key stems 12 slidably mounted in the machine frame. Each of the value keys ii is provided with a latching notch 13 in the lower end thereof, which is adapted to cooperate with the latching slide to hold a depressed key in its operative position. The latching slide 1 can be moved to its rearward releasing position (to the right in Fig. 1) either by depression of a O, or rdinal clear, key 15' or by rocking of a ciear bail 17 which engages ears 16 on the forward end of the latching slides 14. Clearing by means of the rocking of the clear bail, which is pivctally mounted on a tran verse shaft 13, can be controlled by a manual key not shown, or by various automatic operations, one of wiil be hereafter described. Each of the key stems is provided w' a pin or stud 1) adjacent the lower ere-3f, adapted to cooperate with the differentially positi cam face on the selection slide 21.

selection slides 21 are ordinally arranged in the mach e, adjacent t eir associated orders of keys, and led to set the keyboard value into the machine. form shown, each of the sciection slides 21 is Jported by a pair of pivoted arms 22, and is urged to ard, or its inoperative, position by a suitable The lides are held against lateral displacement by comb and comb-like slots, not shown, in the cros in the machine used for purposes of exen ion there are two such slides associated with each order of the keyboard, one slide serving the l to 5 keys and another serving the 6 to 9 keys, as is shown in l.

in the conventional machine, such as that shown in the patent above-referred to, the selection slide 21 extends rea .vardly wiere it is formed into a yoke 3%) which embra es an annular slot formed in the hub of a selection gear Thus, for each order of the machine there are two selection gears 33, one serving the l to 5 slide and the other the 6 to 9 slide, both of which are mounted upon a square shaft 32 extending longitudinally in the machine. The movement of the slides caused by depression of a value key Eti positions the proper selection gear diiferentially along the shaft 32, and into operative position with respect to the stepped teeth of an actuator drum 33 of conventional design. The actuators are driven cyclically from a power shaft 37 extending transversely of the 1nacl ne, as is conventional in machines of this type.

Upon the rear of the square shaft 32 is mounted a slidable gear sleeve carrying gears at each end which are meshable vith an accumulator gear afiixed to the iower end or" the shaft which carries the accumulator dial This oigitation spool 34 be shifted forwardly or rearwardly by conventicnai means to cause the value set the selection mechanism to be added or subtracted in the: 'ster as desi ed by the operator.

it is conventional in machines of this kind to have the selection sides 21 formed in a singie piece, whereby the slide is r ntially positioned by the depression ofa value key at, is latched in that position throughout the cycle of operation by the depressed key, the position of the selection gears 3%) always corresponding to the positions of their respective Siides 21. in my invention I form the slide of two parts, the slide 21 extending rearwardly only as far as the crossbrace 25. In my preferred form, the rear end of the selection member, which includes the yoke 30, is a separate member slidably mounted on the selection slide 21. In the form shown the rear portion 40 of the selection member comprises a link, the rear end of which is formed into the yoke 39 and the forward portion of which is provided with two or more slots 41 which embrace associated studs 42 carried by the selection slide 21. Preferably, both the front and rear slides 21 and 40, respectively, are provided with a centralizing notch 43, which in the normal position of the slides register one with another. The centralizing depressions 43 are formed with sloping sides, or cam edges, 44, and an interior pocket 45 as shown in Fig. 2. Associated with the centralizing depressions 43 is a centralizing member comprising an arm 46 pivotally mounted on the rear slide 40, as by stud 47. A stud or pin 48 is riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to the free end of the arm 46, in a position to be seated in the interior pocket 45 of each of the centralizing depressions, when the arm 46 is urged into engagement with the slides (counter-clockwise in Fig. 1). The arm 46 is provided with a lateral ear 49, and is urged in an engaging (counterclockwise) direction by a suitable spring tensioned between the ear 49 and a stud 51 mounted on the slide as. The spring 50 should be strong enough to bias the pin 48 into engagement with the centralizing pocket 45 with sufficient force to seat the pin in such pocket, as shown in Fig. 1, thereby holding the rear member in proper position with respect to the slide 21. It can be noted at this point that the only work required of the rear slide 40 is to position the selection gears 31 so that the only force opposing the seating of the pin 48 in the pockets 45 is the inertia of the rear slide 4t) and selection gears 41. Therefore, the force required to centralize the parts is minute, and it will be found that the spring 50 is sufficient to properly locate the parts in their respective positions. Therefore, when the pin 58 is seated in the pocket 45, the movement of slide 21 to any differential position will move the slide 40 to the same position, thereby properly positioning the selection gear 31. Then, if the rear slide 40 is locked in the adjusted position by a suitable means, the keyboard can be cleared, and the slide 21 returned to its original position, the selection gear 31 remaining in the adjusted position to control digitation during machine operation. After the operation is completed, if the rear slide 40 is released by its latch, the pin 48, under the force of spring 50 will, by acting upon the cam faces 44 of the centralizing depression, move the slide 40 to the adjusted position of slide 21 and again seat the pin 48 in the pocket 45.

The means for latching the rear slides 44 in their adjusted position will now be described. A preferred form of latch is shown in Fig. 1, and comprises a rack 52 formed in the lower edge of the rearward slide 40. Associated with this rack is a transverse latching bail 55 adapted to be rocked into interdental engagement with racks 52 on all of the selection slides 40. This latching bail 55 is pivotally mounted on a transverse shaft 56, as shown. Means is provided for rocking the bail 55 into engagement with the teeth of the rack 52 upon the start of an operating cycle of the machine. Many forms for operating the latch could be suggested by those skilled in the art, but I prefer to operate the latching bail 55 from the operation of the conventional switch link 57 which, in the commercial machine manufactured under the patent above-mentioned, is moved toward the front of the machine (toward the left in Fig. 1 and toward the right in Fig. 3) upon depression of a control key to close the motor switch for initiating motor operation. In this commercial machine the switch link 57 is operated in conjunction with a clutch control dog, not shown, of a conventional single cycle clutch, whereby the link 57 can be released for forward movement to its open position at the end of a cycle of operation. In my preferred form I rigidly mount a suitable operating member 60 on the switch link 57, by suitable studs 61 and spacers 62. The operating member carries an integral, rearward-1y extending latch operating arm 63 which is provided with a camming face as which is adapted, upon translation of the switch link and operating member 60 forwardly, to rock the bail 55 into engagement with the rack 52. By this means the operation of the switch link 57 first rocks the latch 55 into engagement with the racks 52, thereby latching the slides 45 in their adjusted positions, and thereafter closes the switch which initiates a machine operation. The rear slides 40 and their associated selection gears 31 are thereby latched in their ad justed positions throughout a machine operation, and are not released until the switch link 57 has returned to its normal position sufliciently to open the switch and stop the machine motor.

I also prefer that the translation of the switch link 57 and operating member 60 will be operative to withdraw the pins 43 of arms 46 out of engagement with the pockets 45 on both associated selection slides 21 and 4-0. This can readily be accomplished by providing a forwardly extending arm 65 on the operating member 60. A small pin, or stud, 66 is riveted on this arm, and is adapted to engage an arm 7% rigidly secured to a transverse shaft 71. The shaft 71 extends transversely across the keyboard and is provided with an arm 72 associated with each of the selection slides 21, 45. It will be recalled that there are two such slide assemblie associated with each order of the keyboard 11 so that there will be two arms 72 associated with each order of the machine. These arms 72 are also rigidly secured to the shaft 71, and each arm is provided with a roller 73 on its free end. Each roller 73 is adapted to engage the ear 49 of the ordinally associated latching arm 46, upon rotation of the shaft 71. Thus, the forward movement of the switch link 57, by means of pin 66, rocks the arm 70, shaft 71 and arms 72 to cause the rollers 73 to engage the cars 49 and thereby rock the pins 48 out of engagement with the registering pockets 45 on slides 21, 40. The rocking of the arms 46 to disengage the pins 48 from the centralizing depressions 43 disengages the two selection slides 21 and 40, so that while the latter is locked in its adjusted position, the former is free to return to its 0, or normal, position upon the rocking of the clear bail 17.

It will thus be seen that in multicycle operations the secondary, or auxiliary, selection slide 40 is locked in its adjusted position by the locking ear 55 engaging rack 52 and by the rocking of the pin 43 out of the centralizing slot 43. At the end of the first cycle the automatic clearing mechanism can be operated, which causes the bail 17 to engage the latching slide 16, thereby releasing all depressed keys 11 so that a new factor can be set in the keyboard.

I prefer to use check dials associated with my auxiliary selection mechanism, and prefer to use check dial assemblies of the type disclosed in the patent to Friden and Moody of April 14, 1942, No. 2,279,456. The check dial assembly 77 comprises a pair of nested dials, an inner dial operated by the 1 to 5 slide assembly (not shown) and an outer dial 78, both of which dials are rotatably mounted on a transverse shaft 85. The dial 78 carries a window or aperture (not shown) which discloses the figures set on the inner dial, so long as the outer dial 78 is in its 0 position; and also the numerals 6 to 9, as shown in said patent. Each of the dials carries an integral pinion 79 which meshes with an arcuate rack 80 pivotally mounted on a second transverse shaft 82. The rack 80 is rocked by an associated arm or rocker, 81, the lower end of which is bifurcated as at 83 to embrace a pin 84 on the associated selection slide 40. By this means the translation of the slide 40 to its selected differential position is operative to set the associated dial at the proper indication to disclose the value entered in that order of the selection mechanism.

It is conventional in machines of this type to include what is generally known as an add key mechanism, by means of which the machine can selectively be set to release the keyboard value at the end of the first cycle, or not, at the will of the operator. Such a mechanism is shown in Figs. 3 and 5. A conventional add key mechanism is shown herein, and comprises an add key 90 pivotally mounted on the control plate 93. It is connected by means of a long link 91 to a rocker 92 pivotally mounted on the adjacent frame plate 94. A slide 95 is operatively associated with the rocker 92, whereby the rocking of the latter (clockwise in Fig. 3) depresses slide 95. Slide 95 carries a pin 96 extending through an aperture 110 in the frame plate 94, which pin 96 is embraced Within slot 97 in long link 98. The long link 98 is supported at its rear end on the upper end of a cam lever 99, the lower end of which is formed into a cam nose as shown. Normally the link 98 is urged forwardly and the cam lever 99 is rocked clockwise by a spring 102, in which position the lower end of the cam lever 99 will be rocked at the very end of a cycle by a pin 100 mounted on Wobbler cam 101 secured to the main drive shaft 37. The forward end of the long link 98 carries a cam face 103 which engages a roller 104 which earns the link 98 rearwardly and rocks the lever 99 counter-clockwise when the add key mechanism is in its normal inoperative position. Also associated with the forward end of the link 98 is a notch 105 which, whenthe link is moved downwardly, and thus permitted to move forwardly under the force of spring 102, engages a pin 106 on an arm 107 pivotally secured to the frame plate 94. The arm 107 carries a clearing link 108, the forward end of which is provided with a bent-over ear 109 which engages the front side of the clearing bail 17. Thus, at the end of the cycle, when the pin 100 rocks lever 99, link 98 pulls arm 107 (clockwise in Fig. 3) and link 108 rearwardly to rock the clear bail 17, thereupon releasing all of the key-latching slides 16 and releasing the keyboard value set in the keys 11.

It will be obvious that it is necessary to modify such an add key mechanism in order to prevent the clearing of the keyboard on the second, and successive, cycles of a multicycle operation, and thus prevent the insertion of a new factor into the keyboardduring the operation of the machine in a multicyclic operation. The disabling of the clearing mechanism, after the first cycle of operation, can readily be secured by the means shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Such a mechanism can comprise a latching arm 115 pivotally mounted on the frame plate 94, and urged into a latching (counter-clockwise)" position by means of a spring 116 tensioned between the latch and the frame plate. The latching member is provided with a hook 117 adapted to drop over pin 118mounted on the rocking lever 99. In the normal position of the parts shown in Fig. 3, the tip of the hook 117 rests upon the pin 118, in which position it is ineffective to prevent operation of the clearing mechanism just described. However, upon rocking of the lever 99 to operate the clearing mechanism, the hook 117 can drop over the pin 118, thereafter holding the lever 99 and associated clearing mechanism in a disabled position. In addition, I also provide a cam nose 119 on the clearing link 108. Associated with this nose is a pin 120 carried by the frame plate 94 so that as the link 108 is drawn rearwardly the cam nose 119 engages the pin 120, rocking the link (clockwise in Figs. 3 and to pull the nose 109 on the forward end thereof, below the operating ear 121 on clear bail 17 (Fig. 4) and thereby release the clearing bail 17. It will be noted that the link 108 is held in the withdrawn position, in which it is rocked to disable the clearing mechanism, so long as the latch 115 is operative.

The latch 115 is disabled at the end of a multicycle operation, by any suitable means. A preferred form is shown in Fig. 3 and comprises a cam arm 122 integral with the switch link 57. When the link 57 is in its forward position to close the switch and run the machine,

the cam arm 122 is disengaged from the latch member 115. However, when the switch link 57 returns to its normal position, the cam arm 122 engages a complemental face 123 formed on the latch 115, thereby lifting the latch against the tension of spring 116, to disengage the hook 117 from the pin 118. Thereupon the parts return to their normal position and the automatic clearing mechanism is again ready for operation.

It will be seen that by means of my invention an operator is enabled to set a factor in the keyboard and initiate a multicycle operation. At the end of the first cycle of such multicycle operation, the keyboard is released, while the original factor is locked in the selection mechanism. Thereupon the next keyboard factor can be inserted in the keyboard, so that upon termination of the current operation a new operation can be quickly initiated. The setting of such a factor in the keyboard moves the slides 21 to their respective differential positions, and the latching of the depressed keys 11 holds the slides 21 in such positions. At the termination of the current operation, the switch link 57 moves rearwardly, thus releasing latches 55 (thereby unlatching auxiliary selection slides 40) and arm 70 (thereby releasing the centralizer disabling arms 72). Thereupon the springs 50 bias their respective arms 46 into the pockets 45 and thus automatically set the auxiliary selection slides 40 into exact register with latched slides 21. In this way the keyboard value is immediately reflected in the differential positioning of the selection gears 31.

It will also be obvious that when the add key is in its normal inoperative position, the automatic clearing mechanism will be disabled so that the keyboard factor will be retained in the keyboard, as is conventional. On the other hand when the add key is rocked forwardly (clockwise in Fig. 3) to its operative position, the clearing mechanism is operative at the end of the first cycle of operation to release the keyboard factor, but the automatic clearing mechanism is thereafter disabled, so that the new factor being set in the keyboard will not be lost. It is also apparent that the disabling of the automatic clearing mechanism terminates with the termination of that multicyclic operation, so that all the parts are returned to normal for the next machine operation.

It is believed that it will be obvious that this mechanism will expedite the work of an operator of a calculating machine by enabling a problem to be set on the keyboard thereof while the machine is operating on the previous problem.

I claim:

1. In a selection mechanism for a calculating machine having an ordinally arranged keyboard, an accumulator register, and ordinally arranged selection gears adapted to be positioned by operation of said keyboard to control entry of values into said register, the combination which comprises primary selection members differentially positioned by operation of the keys of said keyboard, a selection interponent mounted on each of said primary members and operative to position the ordinally related gear, resilient means yieldingly connecting said interponents to their respective members for differential movement therewith, means for disabling said connecting means, means for latching said interponents in any adjusted position, drive means, and means operated by said drive means for operating said disabling means and said latching means.

2. A selection mechanism for a calculating machine comprising a register, a plural order keyboard, ordinally arranged primary selection members differentially positioned by operation of said keyboard, an auxiliary selection member movably mounted on each said primary selection member, selection gears positioned by said auxiliary members, biasing means resiliently connecting said auxiliary member to said primary member for differential operation thereby, means for disabling said biasing means, means for latching said auxiliary member in any adjusted position, an actuating means for entering a value determined by said Selection gears into said register, a control means for initiating operation of said actuating means, and means operated by said control means for operating said disabling means and said latching means.

3. In a calculating machine having a control member for initiating operation of said machine, a plural order keyboard, a latching slide associated with each order of the keyboard, ordinally ararnged selection members differentially positioned by depression of the keys of the keyboard, an interponent movably mounted on each said selection member, means resiliently connecting said interponents to their respective selection members for movement therewith, selection means positioned by said interponents, means operated by said control member for locking said interponents in any adjusted difierential position, and for disconnecting said interponents from their respective selection members, and for thereafter releasing said latching slides.

4. A selection mechanism for a calculating machine comprising a plural order keyboard, ordinally arranged primary selection slides differentially positioned by operation of said keyboard, an auxiliary selection slide mounted on each said primary selection slide for longitudinal movement With respect to said first-mentioned slide, a selection member positioned by said auxiliary slide, biasing means normally positioning said auxiliary slide in registry With said primary slide, means for disabling said biasing means, and means for latching said auxiliary slide in any adjusted position.

5. A selection mechanism for a calculating machine comprising a plural order keyboard, selection slides associated with each order of said keyboard and difierentially positioned by operation of the keys of said keyboard, an auxiliary slide mounted on each of said firstmentioned slides for longitudinal movement With respect to said first-mentioned slide, means for normally latching said auxiliary slides to their respective selection slides, a selection gear positioned by said auxiliary slide, means for disabling said latching means, and means for latching said auxiliary slide in any adjusted position.

6. A selection mechanism for a calculating machine comprising a plural order keyboard, difierentially positionable primary selection bars associated With each order of said keyboard, an auxiliary selection bar mounted on each said primary selection bar for differential movement with the ordinally related primary selection bar, a selection gear positioned by said auxiliary selection bar, means for resiliently connecting the ordinally related primary and auxiliary bars together, means for disabling said connecting means, means for latching said auxiliary slide in any adjusted position, an operation initiating member, and means operated by said member for operating said disabling means and said latching means.

7. In a motor driven calculating machine having a motor control means for controlling operation of said motor, a plural order keyboard, a latching slide associat-ed with each order of the keyboard, ordinally arranged selection members difierentially positioned by a V depression of the keys of the keyboard, an interponent mounted on said selection members, means normally connecting said interponents to their respective selection members, selection means positioned by s'aid'interponents, means operated by said motor control means for locking said interponents in any adjusted differential position and for disconnecting said interponents from their respective selection members, automatic clearing means for operating said latching slides to release the keys of said keyboard, and means for latching said clearing means in a disabled position after the first cycle of a multicycle operation.

8. In a calculating machine having a control member for initiating operation of said machine, a plural order keyboard, a latching slide associated with each order of the keyboard, an add key mechanism selectively operable with each cycle of machine operation to operate said latching slides to release the keys of the keyboard, the combination which comprises ordinally arranged selection members differentially positioned by depression of the keys of the keyboard, an interponent mounted on each said selection member, resilient latching means normally connecting said interponents to their associated selection members for operation therewith, selection means positioned by said interponents, means operated by said control member for locking said interponents in any adjusted differential position and for disabling said latching means to disconnect said interponents from their respective selection members, and means for disabling said add key mechanism after the first cycle of a multicycle operation.

9. A selection mechanism for a calculating machine comprising a plural order keyboard, a latching slide associated with each order of the keyboard, ordinally arranged selection slides difierentially positioned by depression of the keys of the keyboard, an auxiliary slide mounted on each said selection slide, means normally connecting said auxiliary slides to their associated selection slides, selection means positioned by said auxiliary slides, means for locking said auxiliary slides in any adjusted differential position, means operated simultaneously With said locking means for disconnecting said auxiliary slides from said selection slides, automatic clearing means for operating said latching slides to release the keys of said keyboard, and means for latching said clearing means in a disabled position after the first cycle of a multicycle operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,609,335 Wales Dec. 7, 1926 1,912,874 Walter June 6, 1933 2,229,889 Friden Jan. 28, 1941 2,279,456 Friden et a1 Apr. 14, 1942 2,421,111 Avery May 27, 1947 2,467,441 Noller et a1 Apr. 19, 1949 2,665,844 Westinger et a1. Jan. 12, 1954 

